NIH-funded research R03 grant

Understanding how certain immune cells contribute to heart inflammation caused by cancer treatments.

Official title: CXCL9/10 Macrophage Induced CXCR3+ T-cell Recruitment to the Heart Contributes to Immunotherapy Myocarditis

Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10867164 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how certain immune cells can cause heart inflammation in people receiving cancer treatment, with the goal of finding ways to keep patients safer during their therapy.

More Immunotherapy research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR03 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2024
Project endJuly 31, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$117,804
NIH project number1R03HL173146-01
Project IDNIH-10867164 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing immunotherapy for advanced cancer who may be at risk for myocarditis.

Less likely to help

Patients not receiving immunotherapy or those without a history of heart issues may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the role of specific immune cells, particularly macrophages and T-cells, in causing heart inflammation known as myocarditis, which can occur as a side effect of cancer immunotherapy. By using advanced mouse models and high-throughput techniques, the study aims to understand how these immune cells interact and contribute to heart damage. The findings could lead to better management strategies for patients experiencing this serious side effect, ultimately improving their safety during cancer treatment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments that minimize heart inflammation in patients receiving immunotherapy for cancer.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding immune cell interactions can lead to significant advancements in managing side effects of cancer treatments, indicating potential for success in this area.

Where this research is happening

  • Stanford University
    Stanford, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Zhu, Han — Stanford University
  • Study coordinator: Zhu, Han

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Targeted CXCR3 blockade to treat immunotherapy-related heart inflammation

    A targeted drug approach aims to prevent or lessen heart inflammation caused by immune therapies in cancer patients, using CXCR3-blocking strategies.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11415616

  • Understanding why immunotherapy can affect the heart and how to protect it

    Researchers are studying why certain cancer immunotherapies cause dangerous heart inflammation and how to prevent it, with a focus on patients who receive immune-boosting treatments.

    NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11364611

  • Why some cancer immunotherapy drugs cause dangerous heart inflammation

    Seeing if blocking a chemical signal that draws T cells into the heart can prevent dangerous heart inflammation in people receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor cancer drugs.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11158831

  • Boosting immune response to fight cancer

    This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.

    NIH research University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, United States · NIH-9868156

  • A center focused on immunotherapy for pediatric cancers.

    This study is exploring new ways to use the body's immune system to fight childhood cancers, aiming to create better treatments for kids whose cancers haven't responded well to standard therapies.

    NIH research Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · Columbus, United States · NIH-9839924

  • Algorithms to find HLA-E neoantigens for cancer immunotherapy

    Aims to develop computer methods to discover tumor-specific targets presented by HLA-E to guide new T cell therapies for cancer.

    NIH research University of Maryland Baltimore · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11618504

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.